Hats, kitemarks, competing and insurance...

[Gingernags]

I must say I'm a bit bemused!

Went to look at hats on Saturday. Was bribed to have a day out in York by OH saying he'd have a look in Rideaway for something for me for my birthday... I thought of a hat as mine is a few years old, and has been bounced off the floor a few times etc etc so thought I'd like a nice new one to compete in if I get some endurance rides in.

I really, really wanted one of these troxel as its vented and I thought it would be great but it didn't fit AT ALL (I have a very small and wonky funny shaped head it seems!!!!).

However, have to say the sales assistants were very helpful and friendly, but the salesman who was helping said they weren't kitemarked. Though the safety standard was probably equivalent, many competitions won't allow un-kitemarked hats and even my insurance could be funny about any head injuries should I have a fall in a hat that wasn't kitemarked!

There was another similar hat, cheaper, that was kitemarked polly hat but it looked like a mushroom had sprouted on top of my head, really didn't suit me...

In the end, and I feel VERY guilty about the cost though Kev says its OK, I ended up getting an £80 hat! I've NEVER spent that much on a hat in my life! My last ones have all been about £30 (Saying that, my Christy Beaufort that I loved so much I wore for about 18 years before being forced to change it before it fell to bits!!!!)

So I'm getting this... JT Not initially what I wanted as I wanted a really nice vented one, but it looks rather good and smart, fits nicely and doesn't seem to be likely to give me headaches!

The only down side... I have to wait til 28 August for it!!! MInd you I have a pleasure ride on 3 September to christen it!

I was really surprised though how many hats AREN'T kitemarked, and shocked to learn that my insurance could have been a problem.

Checked when I got home and both mine and my sisters cheapies are kitemarked thankfully, but I never realised it was such a minefield!

 

[Patches]

I've just been directed to this post by a friend (as I don't post much anymore on here).

I recently bought a Troxel hat and love it and now I'm a bit worried! It's been fabulous to ride in it during the heatwave and feels lovely on my head. I knew it met the EN 1387 - 1997 and it has an SEI mark in it also.

Damn. I might have to keep that one for using on my bike!

On the other hand, Hannah has the Junior JTE hat. She loves it, especially the velvety straps as they're so comfy. Doesn't keep her head much cooler though, but still a lovely hat.

Looks like I'll have to invest in a mushroom hat then!

 

[Rambo]

What insurance do you think you are invalidating oput of interest

 

[Gingernags]

For me personally - basically he said if I fall off and get a head injury and my hat isn't kitemarked, they *could* use it as an excuse not to pay out.

Given that we've had stories about insurers not paying out if you don't have high viz on etc, it wouldn't surprise me.

It wasn't definite, just what he would advise. Also if I wanted to do some proper competitive endurance riding, they may insist on a kitemarked hat as a minimum, as the pony club do.

Had I just been hacking about at home, I think I'd have got the Troxel and just double checked with the insurance as the hat is safe enough, just not "approved". But no point buying one then finding out later I can't compete in it and having to spend again.

 

[flyingfeet]

I have exactly the same problem - I have a Casco Arcus, the lightest most ventilated hat you can buy (Over £90)

However it's only EN1384, although does meet another German standard too. Also performed really well in the Mark Davies hat survey

However I cannot do Riding Club in it, so instead I am buying on of these Shires Hat

Its cheap, meets requirements and ventilated (and £20) - however I am still not thrilled about have to buy what is essentially an inferior hat to compete in!!

 

[Rambo]

Hmmmmm....I can see where he's coming from, but I suspect is being a little over-cautious. What next, your insurance won't pay out for a back injury if you're not wearing a back protector

Governing bodies have the power to stipulate that you must have a hat that complies as you sign up to their rules when you affiliate. Your insurance doesn't state anything about riding hats im sure

 

[Patches]

I didn't even think wearing a hat was compulsory unless you are under the age of 14, just advisable?

The safety marks inside my Troxel are...


BSEN - 1384 (1997)

SEI Certified Model ASTM F1163-01

Also says it complies with PPE Directive 89/686/EEC whatever that means.

In a survey (ok American survey) it was rated the safest of the lightweight hats. It just doesn't have a British Kite Mark. I assume they will get them eventually as Troxel is by Air-o-wear and their Body Protectors meet British Kite Mark safety standards don't they?

 

[Patches]

[ QUOTE ]
What insurance do you think you are invalidating oput of interest <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't think I was until I read this post. Now I'm not so sure.

 

[Patches]

Right...

Just spoke to our NFU rep.

Wearing this hat would NOT invalidate my personal insurance if in an accident. The ONLY way it may affect a claim is if a driver hit me and caused a head injury, their insurer may try and use me riding a hat that was "sub standard" against me. However, the EN 1384 is the minimum requirement and therefore the hat, as far as the NFU are concerned, meets minimum requirements.

He said he didn't think a Riding School would be able to touch the hats though as they are goverened by much stricter requirements. Fine for Joe Bloggs, not necessarily ok for professionals who have to adhere to stronger rules.

However, that's not to say the hat is dangerous and he said he thought the makers of these hats would be clambering over themselves to get them kitemarked.

 

[Gingernags]

Well I would have got it if it was just for hacking about use, but I thought there was no point if I'd not be able to compete in it and as I'm thinking of joining a Riding Club and also doing some endurance, though it was safe enough it wouldn't be allowed for competition, so no point having to buy yet another!

Shame as it was a very nice hat. But my new one is also a nice hat, just 'spensive. I can see me updating people about the exploits of my 'spensive new hat when I finally get it!!!

 

[Zebedee]

This is how it was explained to me a while ago.
Anything that is 'kitemarked' is batch tested, so that in the case of riding hats (which I think are polymer) they will test periodically to make sure that the standard is being maintained. Hats that aren't kitemarked have only had to pass an initial test. If anything then goes wrong in the manufacturing process and causes the hat to be weaker than it should be it won't be picked up (other than by someones head).
This was also discused in some detail in a previous thread. If I've done it right the link to that is below.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/ne...part=1&vc=1